How much should I charge? at DVinfo.net

Vito Zarrillo · January 31st, 2003, 10:28 AM

Hi all-
I have a question about what to charge as a day rate for renting my GL2 in US$. I work at an ad agency that wants to use my camera/equipment for a "making of..."/behind the scenes video for a new commercial we are shooting.

Let me give you the details of the equipment that I have:

GL2
4 945 batteries
Libec M20 tripod
Sennheiser M66 mic
Sony Professional Headphones
Various Tiffen filters

So, my question is, how much should I charge for this? I realize, even though I am an employee, I have to put everything in writing (about the charges, days, etc.) Also, how do I get insurance for this? That price should be put into the quote of the fee, correct?

I will NOT be attending the shoot as it is in Japan and they can not afford for me to go. This is the first time I have ever been asked to rent out my equipment and also the first time someone other than myself will be operating it.

Are there any other issues that I haven't thought of?

I would appreciate any and all feedback.

Thank you very much,
Vito

Jeff Donald · January 31st, 2003, 11:17 AM

I would charge several hundred dollars a day for an outfit like that. Anything less than $125 a day and your cheating yourself. The cost for damages is usually the responsibility of the renter and is written into the contract that way. However, normal wear and tear is your responsibility. So, if the camera comes back with a few scratches that do not affect performance, don't get upset.

Dan Holly · January 31st, 2003, 05:20 PM

and......have them insure your gear for full replacement value with you as the sole beficiary.

Jeff Donald · January 31st, 2003, 05:23 PM

Most companies would choose to self insure. So, be sure and state that you want full replacement value for your equipment, should it be destroyed, in your rental contract.

Dylan Couper · January 31st, 2003, 11:54 PM

A kit like that would rent in Vancouver for around $120us per day/$500/week.
I would make your employer insure it for full replacement value.

Vito Zarrillo · February 3rd, 2003, 04:34 PM

thanks a lot guys. I really appreciate your input and will draw up a contract accordingly. I called a place here in NYC (Limon Video) and they quoted a price of $175US. I will go in a little under that, I think (just to make it attractive to them to rent my gear instead of outsourcing it, you know?)

thanks again,
Vito

Rob Lohman · February 4th, 2003, 03:23 AM

Personally I would let them rent somewhere else for that amount
of money... But maybe I love my camera too much...

Derrick Begin · February 4th, 2003, 07:52 AM

Vito,

I noticed your in NYC. In an effort to network and connect, what do you do both with your digital video work and your financial doings?

Cheers!

Derrick
NYC

Vito Zarrillo · February 4th, 2003, 09:38 AM

Rob,
I couldn't agree with you more about them going someplace else for the rental but I am looking at this as a means to an end. the way I am looking at it, if I can start to make this a (semi) regular thing with my company, the money that I would make from them I would put into purchasing other (read: more and better) equipment that I would then be able to use for other projects. I love my camera but doing this might get me where I want to be professionally faster than me just relying solely on my regular income. Does this sound like a wise process?

Again, any sight is greatly appreciated.

Vito

Vito Zarrillo · February 4th, 2003, 09:52 AM

Derrick,

Networking is key, isn't it? As a profession I am an Art Director at an advertising agency. I mostly work in print but lately I have taken an almost obsessive interest in working more on video projects for our clients.

Specifically, our clients who do television commercials with us require that we produce "RIPS" for them prior to any signoff on projects. In case you do not know what RIPS are, they are usually fake commercial comprised of stock footage to show the client what the commercial "could" look or feel like. What I am trying to do is, instead of using stock footage, I am going out and shooting DV instead. I then bring that into FCP (which I am just learning) and then put a rough cut together for them.

As far as non professional video work goes, I am always out and about shooting random things putting together a "my view of NY" for my own personal practice (on getting better with FCP and my GL2). Maybe at one point soon, we can get together for some beers and BS.

Talk to you,

Vito

Rob Lohman · February 4th, 2003, 10:42 AM

Vito, if you are planning to get some more regular income etc.
with this then it might be an interesting option to follow. If you
are going to do this it might be interesting if this gets running to
insure your camera yourself and bill that to the client? You will
then have a garantuee that it will be insured and you can state
in the contract that the client will be fined for any damage to the
equipment... etc.

January 31st, 2003, 10:28 AM	#1
Vito Zarrillo New Boot Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: New York Posts: 21	How much should I charge? Hi all- I have a question about what to charge as a day rate for renting my GL2 in US$. I work at an ad agency that wants to use my camera/equipment for a "making of..."/behind the scenes video for a new commercial we are shooting. Let me give you the details of the equipment that I have: GL2 4 945 batteries Libec M20 tripod Sennheiser M66 mic Sony Professional Headphones Various Tiffen filters So, my question is, how much should I charge for this? I realize, even though I am an employee, I have to put everything in writing (about the charges, days, etc.) Also, how do I get insurance for this? That price should be put into the quote of the fee, correct? I will NOT be attending the shoot as it is in Japan and they can not afford for me to go. This is the first time I have ever been asked to rent out my equipment and also the first time someone other than myself will be operating it. Are there any other issues that I haven't thought of? I would appreciate any and all feedback. Thank you very much, Vito

January 31st, 2003, 11:17 AM	#2
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	I would charge several hundred dollars a day for an outfit like that. Anything less than $125 a day and your cheating yourself. The cost for damages is usually the responsibility of the renter and is written into the contract that way. However, normal wear and tear is your responsibility. So, if the camera comes back with a few scratches that do not affect performance, don't get upset. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

January 31st, 2003, 05:20 PM	#3
Dan Holly Major Player Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 336	and..... and......have them insure your gear for full replacement value with you as the sole beficiary. __________________ Dan Holly Anchorage, Alaska

January 31st, 2003, 05:23 PM	#4
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	Most companies would choose to self insure. So, be sure and state that you want full replacement value for your equipment, should it be destroyed, in your rental contract. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

February 3rd, 2003, 04:34 PM	#6
Vito Zarrillo New Boot Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: New York Posts: 21	Great thanks a lot guys. I really appreciate your input and will draw up a contract accordingly. I called a place here in NYC (Limon Video) and they quoted a price of $175US. I will go in a little under that, I think (just to make it attractive to them to rent my gear instead of outsourcing it, you know?) thanks again, Vito

January 31st, 2003, 11:54 PM	#5
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	A kit like that would rent in Vancouver for around $120us per day/$500/week. I would make your employer insure it for full replacement value.

February 4th, 2003, 03:23 AM	#7
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	Personally I would let them rent somewhere else for that amount of money... But maybe I love my camera too much... __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

February 4th, 2003, 07:52 AM	#8
Derrick Begin Major Player Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: New York Posts: 329	Vito, I noticed your in NYC. In an effort to network and connect, what do you do both with your digital video work and your financial doings? Cheers! Derrick NYC

February 4th, 2003, 09:38 AM	#9
Vito Zarrillo New Boot Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: New York Posts: 21	Rob, I couldn't agree with you more about them going someplace else for the rental but I am looking at this as a means to an end. the way I am looking at it, if I can start to make this a (semi) regular thing with my company, the money that I would make from them I would put into purchasing other (read: more and better) equipment that I would then be able to use for other projects. I love my camera but doing this might get me where I want to be professionally faster than me just relying solely on my regular income. Does this sound like a wise process? Again, any sight is greatly appreciated. Vito

February 4th, 2003, 09:52 AM	#10
Vito Zarrillo New Boot Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: New York Posts: 21	Derrick, Networking is key, isn't it? As a profession I am an Art Director at an advertising agency. I mostly work in print but lately I have taken an almost obsessive interest in working more on video projects for our clients. Specifically, our clients who do television commercials with us require that we produce "RIPS" for them prior to any signoff on projects. In case you do not know what RIPS are, they are usually fake commercial comprised of stock footage to show the client what the commercial "could" look or feel like. What I am trying to do is, instead of using stock footage, I am going out and shooting DV instead. I then bring that into FCP (which I am just learning) and then put a rough cut together for them. As far as non professional video work goes, I am always out and about shooting random things putting together a "my view of NY" for my own personal practice (on getting better with FCP and my GL2). Maybe at one point soon, we can get together for some beers and BS. Talk to you, Vito

February 4th, 2003, 10:42 AM	#11
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	Vito, if you are planning to get some more regular income etc. with this then it might be an interesting option to follow. If you are going to do this it might be interesting if this gets running to insure your camera yourself and bill that to the client? You will then have a garantuee that it will be insured and you can state in the contract that the client will be fined for any damage to the equipment... etc. __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors